Chapter 22

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I rub my eyes and blink a few times. My surroundings are very dimly lit, I can hardly make out any figures or forms. I had a dream, no a nightmare, I ran over an innocent child? At least I think it was a child... The next thing I notice is that my outfit is different. I am now wearing what feels like a sleeping gown. I begin to rely on my hands to figure out where I am. My body folds up into kneeling position and my hands fall forward. Blindly, I search out my surroundings. The area is mushy and comfortable. It reminds me of a bed or a huge mound of earth. The temperature is neither too cold nor hot, it feels comfortable and homey. Where am I?

I begin to crawl forward, feeling my way out. My fingers brush against a hard wood surface. Cautiously, I stand up, feeling my way up wood surface. A small square object protrudes, it feels like a door knob. My fingers wrap around the door knob and I give it a turn. I push forward and a crack of light floods in. I blink several times, trying to adjust my vision. I peek my head out of the crack, wary of where I am. 

A vast hallway leading to the unknown unfolds in front of me. Rustic cobble stone steps decorate the floor, giving the place an ancient feel. The light crème colored walls dully reflect the abstract Italian renaissance paintings, which hung flamboyantly upon them. Everything about this place is a recollection of a vintage Renaissance like period. As my eyes trail up to the ceiling, a crystal chandelier glares intensely and radiantly down at me. Past the chandelier is a ceiling adorned with pantings of clouds and pink rosey cherubs. 

The whole place strikes me as beautiful, but I can't enjoy it. Something deep inside continuously pesters me, warning me that something isn't right. It's as if I've been here before, but my memory of it is foggy and jumbled, making no cohesion or relatable sense. I wander down the hallway aimlessly, looking for some clue as to where I am. I pass a number of doors, cautiously opening them to check what lies inside. They are all identical rooms to the one I came out of, a simple sleeping area. Time passes by slowly, making me feel like I've been searching for answers for an eternity.  It feels like I'm walking a maze, a maze with no entrance or exit, just a mass number or twists. My stomach growls at me. When was the last time I ate? What time or day even is it?

"Hungry Lacey?" questions the voice in an almost sarcastic manner.

It is the voice in which I've heard too many times. Every time I hear the voice in my head, fear and anger arise. What do you think? I think to myself.

"You should be. You've been asleep for a good while. Go down the hallway until you see a brass door with golden handles. There you will find an abundance of food to satisfy your hunger."

"Hah. Like I'd listen to you. Last time you nearly killed me. I know who you are. So stop hiding, and show yourself."

"You know who I am? HAH! I could care less about that. You should be more concerned with what I am and...what you are..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well well, I seem to be correct."

"Correct about what?"

"Now now, don't be haste, time is on our hands."

*stomach growls*

"Ahh, still hungry I see. Well join me if you'd like, but if you don't, well that's your problem."

"I may still be hungry, but you owe me some answers."

"I owe you some answers?"

"Yeah, for nearly killing me, frightening me, oh and knocking me out."

"Well I suppose I owe you a few, but it's you that owes us big time."

"Us? There's more...?"

"Scared?"

"No," I say slightly uneasily.

"Well, I have a freshly warm meal to attend to, so I'll be on my way. Like I said, join if you want."

My stomach continues to grumble

"I might as well, seeing that my stomach won't shut up."

"That's my girl."

"I'm not your girl."

"Oh, but you will be."

And with that, the voice disappears from my head.

I walk down to the brass door and carefully open it. A little timid to see what lies in store. 

"Why hello Lacey, come to join me?"

I give him a scowl as I look around for the abundance of food that was described. There appears to be none. The whole room is empty and a few degrees under chilly. Nailed to the middle of the floor is a simple but sturdy chair. Sitting in it is someone I do not recognize. It is a female about the age of 20. Her long blonde hair cascades down to her slim waist. She would be beautiful, if there wasn't that blank and out of place expression on her face. There seems to be no movement within her, she sits still, like a statue. Her eyes fade to a silvery white and her mouth forms a sturdy line. She looks as if she's in some sort of trance or hypnotic state.

"Where's the food," I grumble displeasingly.

"Right here." He gestures to the female sitting in the chair.

"I'm sorry, but human flesh isn't part of my diet, you monster."

"It's not part of mine either."

I watch as he circles around the female, stalking it like a predator would a prey. He then almost gracefully kneels down. His head draws nearer to the female, it looks as if he's about to kiss her. Wow, really? He told me to come to see this? His lip brushes past the female's lips, but doesn't rest there. Instead they trail down to the middle of her neck. I watch as he opens his mouth and shuts it securely around her neck. However it wasn't menacing or terrifying at all. It was beautiful and could pass for careful and loving. A red, warm liquid oozes out from the side of his mouth and drips onto her shirt. A blood drinker.

"Vampire?"

He lifts his head up from her neck and looks at me disgustedly.

"Vampire? Hell no. Don't ever call me that."

He then returns his attention back to his meal, leaving me back to where I started from, confused.

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